Strand handling method and apparatus



p 12, 1967 A. w. VIBBER 3,340,686

STRAND HANDLING METHOD AND APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14. 1966 INVENTOR.

United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and mechanismwhereby a strand is fed at a controlled predetermined rate either intoor out of a loop or balloon rotating at a predetermined speed at astrand twisting and/ or plying spindle. The strand is continuously woundupon and unwound from a capstan disposed coaxially of the balloon by therotation of the balloon. The capstan is rotated about its axis at apredetermined speed relative to the balloon. Direction and speed offeeding of the strand are predetermined, with a given direction ofwinding of the strand about the capstan, by the direction and speed ofrotation of the capstan relative to the balloon.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my applications Ser. No.531,914, filed Mar. 4, 1966, now abandoned; Ser. No. 584,288, filed Aug.15, 1966, now abandoned; Ser. No. 598,578, filed Oct. 31, 1966 and Ser.No. 600,617, filed Dec. 9, 1966.

In my prior applications Ser. Nos. 584,288 and 600,617, I have disclosedand claimed strand twisting apparatus of the strand-wrapping typewherein the strand in a rotating loop or ballooon is engaged and fedforward at a predetermined speed by a driven capstan which rotates as awhole with such strand as the latter rotates about its axis. Such strandfeeding mechanism, although satisfactory, is somewhat complicated, andrequires that a substantial amount of eccentrically distributed weight(the driven capstan and at least a part of its drive train) be added toa flyer, whether the flyer is the main, loop or balloon generating flyeror an auxiliary flyer. Still more weight must, as a consequence, beadded to the flyer in order to bring it into dynamic balance.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeding of the strand inthe rotating loop or balloon is accomplished without adding appreciablyto the weight of the flyer associated with the strand feeding capstan.Such result is accomplished by disposing the capstan, in the form of arotatable capstan roll, coaxially of the rotating loop or balloon, andmounting it on a support mounted separately from the flyer. The capstanroll and flyer are mounted for independent rotation about their axes,the flyer being driven at the same speed and direction as the loop.Guides on the flyer lead the strand onto the surface of the capstan rolland away from the capstan roll. Preferably the strand is thus led inruns extending in directions generally radially of the capstan roll. Thestrand is wound in substantially non-slipping relationship upon thecapstan roll in such direction that the rotation of such runs of thestrand about the capstan roll, taken with the rotation of the capstanroll, to be described, feeds the strand in the desired direction. Inorder to bring the rate of feeding of the strand to the required value,the capstan roll is rotated at such speed and in such direction that thealgebraic sum or resultant of such two strand feeding effects: (1) therotation of the flyer and thus of the runs of the strand approaching andleaving the capstan roll, and (2) the rotation of the capstan roll aboutits axis, yields the desired strand feeding effect.

The above and further objects and novel features of the invention willmore fully appear from the following description when the same is readin connection with the Patented Sept. 12, 1967 accompanying drawings. Itis to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for thepurpose of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition ofthe limits of the invention.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partsthroughout the several views,

FIG. 1 is a schematic view in perspective illustrating a plyingapparatus in accordance with an illustrative embodirnent of theinvention; and

FIG. 2 is a view in vertical axial section through the auxiliary flyerof the plying apparatus of FIG. 1 and showing the constant speedcapstan, and the driving means therefor, for feeding the outer,ballooned singles strand to the plying point, certain of the parts beingshown in elevation.

Turning now to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of plyingspindle, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally designated by thereference character 10. Such spindle is provided with an outer singlesstrand a from an externally mounted yarn package 11, strand a passingthrough a guiding and tensioning arrangement 12 and passing into thelower end of a hollow main spindle shaft 14, as shown. Such shaft 14 maybe driven by an electric motor (not shown) through the medium of atiming belt 15. After rising through the bore in the spindle shaft 14,strand a emerges through a radially directed opening 16 in a storagewheel 17 affixed to the shaft 14, and is then wound to a varying degreein the operation of the spindle about such strand storage wheel. Afterleaving the storage wheel 17, the strand a passes into a balloon orrotating loop 19 which is formed coaxial of the spindle 14 and surroundsa stationary housing 20 and the inner package 21 of the strand [2contained therein. In the embodiment disclosed, the housing 20, theinner package 21, and the 7 package holder, not specifically shown, aremounted by bearings on the upper end of shaft 14, and such parts areheld from rotation by eccentrically weighting the package holder, as isconventional in the art. In the following description and claims theterm rotating loop means the portion of strand a which rotates about itsaxis and which extends from a first zone thereof lying on orsubstantially on such axis to the zone thereof at its final passage intoor out of the loop along or substantially along such axis. The termsrotating loop proper or loop proper are meant to include only thatportion of strand a which rotates about its axis and which extends froma first zone thereof lying on or substantially on such axis to the zonethereof at its next passage to or adjacent to such axis.

Strand b passes upwardly from the package 21 through a tension means 22mounted on housing 20, means 22 imposing a substantially constantretarding tension on strand b. Strand b then travels vertically upwardlysubstantially along the axis of the spindle shaft 14 to meet the singlesstrand a at a plying point P, as shown in FIG. 2. Strand a adjacent thetop of its rotating loop or balloon 19 engages a capstan roll 45, aboutwhich the strand a passes in multiple wraps with substantiallynon-slipping relationship therewith, capstan roll 45 being disposedrelative to an auxiliary flyer, generally designated 24, in a manner tobe explained. The strand a is forwarded at constant speed by capstanroll 45 to the plying point, the tension in the portion of strand abetween such capstan roll 45 and the plying point P being independent ofthe tension of the strand :1 in balloon 19, since the capstan roll 45serves to isolate the tension in the balloon 19 from the tension in suchstrand portion.

The plied strand or cord c is withdrawn under tension from the plyingpoint P by a take-up capstan 26 which has two spaced parallel capstanrolls 27 around which the cord travels in multiple wraps insubstantiallynonslipping relationship. In the embodiment shown, capstan 26 is drivenat constant speed, such drive being by way of bevel gear sets 29, onegear of each such set being fixed to a driving shaft 30. Shaft 30 inturn is shown as being driven by a constant speed, synchronous motor 34through the medium of a pinion 32 on the motor shaft and a large gear 31on shaft 30. It will be understood that the capstan 26 may be driven inother manners, as by being driven by and synchronously with the spindle14.

The illustrative embodiment of capstan and fiyer arrangement is moreparticularly shown in FIG. 2. As there shown, a tube or hollow spindle36 is mounted coaxial of the spindle shaft 14 exteriorly of the balloonor loop 19 by means of a fixed supporting member 25 which may be a partof the frame ofthe apparatus. The lower inner edge of the bore throughthe spindle 36 is fiared as shown at 37, whereby to serve as a guide forthe plied strand or cord c. The auxiliary fiyer 24 has a hollowcup-shaped body 40 of generally conical shape, such body having athickened central flange portion 44 at its upper, smaller diameteredend. The body of fiyer 24 may be made, for example, of a light strongmetal such as high strength aluminum alloy. Since the fiyer body issubjected to low stresses other than those arising from its rotation athigh speed, however, it can as an alternative be made of strong, toughplastic material reinforced, for example, by glass fibers extendingperipherally of the body, Although an auxiliary fiyer with a continuousbody, as shown, is preferred, it may be replaced, if desired, bygenerally radially disposed braced rod-like members providing supportfor the strand guides 46, 47, 49, and 50, to be described.

The fiyer 24 is supported for rotation about its axis, coaxial withspindle 14, on an outer bearing 41, an upstanding annular member 42integral with flange 44 of body 40 serving as the inner race of suchhearing. The outer race 41 of the bearing is fixed to support 25. In theembodiment shown, the spindle or hollow shaft 36 is rotatabiy mounted inthe flange 44 of the auxiliary fiyer by means of a second, inner bearing39 between parts 36 and 44. It will thus be seen that the spindle 36 andthe auxiliary fiyer body 46 are mounted for independent rotation withrespect to each other.

Afiixed to the spindle 36 coaxially thereof within the body of fiyer 24and adjacent the lower end of the spindle 36 is a capstan roll 45 whichin the construction shown is provided with a concave or dishedperipheral surface 48. The body 40 of fiyer 24 serves to supportvertically aligned lower and upper guides 46 and 47, which lead thestrand a from the upper end of the ballooning portion of the rotatingloop of such strand upwardly to generally the vertical center of surface48 of capstan roll 45. Additionally, the guide 46 serves to drive theauxiliary fiyer for rotation about its axis by and in synchronism withthe ballooning strand a. Guides 46 and 47, as well as guides 49 and 50,to be described, are shown as being pigtail guides having their Shanksscrew threaded into the body 40 of the fiyer 24. Such guides may,however, be replaced by other guides or guiding means, such as rollersmounted on the body 40 on anti-friction bearings.

After leaving guide 47, the strand a passes to the capstan roll 45 to bewrapped a plurality of times (3 or 4, for example) around the surface 48of roll 45 so as to have at least substantially non-slipping engagementwith such surface. The strand a then leaves the capstan roll 45 andpasses to guide 49 which is secured to the body 40 of the auxiliaryfiyer 24. Guide 49 is shown as being disposed in substantially the samevertical axial plane as guide 47, and at substantially the samehorizontal level as guide 47. It will be understood that the angulardisplacement of guides 47 and 49 about the axis of the flyer body 40 maybe varied widely, consistent with avoiding interference between thevarious runs of the strands within the body of the fiyer 24. The guides47 and 49 are shown disposed at slightly different heights, to insurethat the wraps of the strand a on the surface 48 of capstan roll 45 willlie side 4 by side from their entrance upon until they leave suchsurface.

The action of the strand feeding apparatus will be better understood bythe following facts:

(1) To feed the strand a, the capstan roll must rotate relative to theruns of the strand (1) approaching and (2) leaving it.

(2) With a given direction of wrap of the strand about the capstan roll,the strand is fed in one direction by rotating the capstan roll in afirst direction A relative to runs (1) and (2), and in the second,reverse direction B by rotating the capstan roll in the other directionrelative to runs (1) and (2).

(3) Reversal of the direction of wrap of the strand about the capstanroll will reverse the respective direction of feed of the strand givenby capstan roll rotations A and B.

(4) Runs 1) and (2) of the strand a rotate in the same direction and atthe same speed as the loop.

(5) To obtain rotation of the capstan roll relative to runs (1) and (2),the capstan roll must rotate at a speed different from the speed ofrotation of the loop.

(6) For strand feeding speeds within the range useful in theillustrative ply-wrapping method and apparatus, the speed difference in(5), above, is relatively small, and depends upon the effective diameterof the surface 48 of the capstan roll.

(7) The strand feeding speed is proportional to the algebraic sum of thestrand feeding effects of the rotation of the loop and of the capstanroll.

(8) The capstan roll, for strand speeds useful in the illustrativeapparatus, rotates in the same direction as the loop.

(9) With a given direction of winding of the strand on the capstan, whenthe speed of rotation of the capstan roll is lower than the speed ofrotation of the loop, the strand is fed in one direction, and when thespeed of rotation of the capstan roll is higher than the speed ofrotation of the loop, the strand is fed in the other direction.

(10) It is ordinarily preferred that, with constant speed strand feedingapparatus in accordance with the invention, the capstan roll be drivenat a speed lower than that of the loop. The reasons for this are, amongothers, economy of power and the decrease in the wearing of parts.

It will be seen that the generally radial runs of strand a (1) betweenguide 47 and capstan roll 45 and (2) between capstan roll 45 and guide49 rotates at the same speed, the speed of rotation of the balloon andfiyer 24, about the axis of the capstan roll. Thus (a) if the capstanroll 45 were freely rotatable with such runs of strand a the capstanroll 45 would have no feeding action upon strand a, since there wouldthen be no rotation of runs (1) and (2) of strand a relative to thecapstan roll. The same result would, of course, be obtained if thecapstan roll 45 were secured to the fiyer to rotate at the same speedand in the same direction as the fiyer. If, however, (b) the capstanroll 45 were held non-rotatable in space, assuming a proper direction ofwinding of the strand on roll 45, the strand a would be fed forwardly inthe proper direction but at much too high a speed for the presentpurpose, the speed of feeding of strand a then being such that a lengthof strand a equal to the effective circumference of capstan roll 45would pass such roll on each revolution of the fiyer.

In order that the capstan roll shall feed strand a forward at the properspeed, it is necessary that the capstan roll 45 rotate in the samedirection as the fiyer, but at a predetermined speed slightly differentfrom that of the fiyer. In the illustrative embodiment the capstan roll45 rotates at a speed which is slightly less than the speed of thefiyer. The result is that the capstan roll 45 rotates in such directionrelative to the fiyer as to forward strand a at the desired speed. Thiswill perhaps be better understood by considering FIG. 2, wherein theflyer 24 is indicated as rotating in a clockwise direction when viewedfrom below, and the runs (1) and (2) of strand a initially engage andleave, respectively, the portion of the periphery 48 of the capstan roll45 which is remote from the reader in FIG. 2. If the flyer 24 wereimagined as being stationary, under an assumed static condition, to feedthe strand a in the desired direction of from left to right in FIG. 2,the capstan roll 45 would then have to be turned counterclockwise. Thesame strand feeding result is obtained, under actual, dynamic operatingconditions, with the flyer 24 turning in a clockwise (from below)direction, and capstan roll 45 turning in the same direction, but at aslightly slower speed. Here again, the capstan roll 45 turns in acounterclockwise direction relative to the flyer and runs (1) and (2) ofstrand a, and thus feeds strand a forwardly at the desired speed.

In the above explanation, and in FIG. 2, the flyer 24, and the capstanroll 45 are described as turning clockwise when viewed from below, andthe runs (1) and (2) of strand a as initially engaging, and as leaving,respectively, the portion of the periphery 48 of the capstan roll 45which is remote from the reader in FIG. 2. It is to be understood,however, that, if desired, the same strand feeding effect may beobtained if the flyer 24 and the capstan roll 45 rotate in acounterclockwise direction when viewed from below, the capstan rollrotates in the same direction as but at a lower speed than the flyer,and the runs (1) and (2) of strand a initially engage and leave,respectively, the portion of the periphery of the capstan roll 45 whichfaces the reader in FIG. 2.

In the illustrative embodiment, the hollow shaft or spindle 36, and thusthe capstan roll 45 afiixed thereto, are rotated in the same directionas, but slightly more slowly than, the flyer 24 by gear means, to bedescribed, the driving effort being derived from the balloon, which, aswe have seen, drives the auxiliary flyer 24. Because the upper end ofspindle 36 is disposed outwardly of, here above, the flyer, however, thedriving of the capstan roll 45 may be effected in other Ways than by thegear train shown. Thus, for example,the spindle 36 could be driven bythe same prime mover which drives the main spindle 14 of the apparatus,as through a suitable shaft or shafts and a timing belt drive connectsbetween the terminal shaft and the upper, exposed end of spindle 36.Also, instead of the spur gear train shown, there may be employedsuitable planetary, differential, or other suitable known speed reducingmechanisms.

The above-referred-to gear train extending between the flyer 24 and thecapstan roll 45 is made up of the spindle 36 to which roll 45 is afiixedand serially meshing gears 51, 52, 56, and 57. Gear 51 is afiixed to theflyer 40 and gear 57 is aflixed to the spindle 36. Such gear traincauses the flyer 24 to drive the spindle 36 and capstan roll 45 in thesame direction as and in synchronism with the flyer, but at a speedwhich is slightly less than that of the flyer, whereby the capstan roll45 feeds the strand a forwardly, in the manner above explained.

The first gear 51 is a hollow pinion which is integral with part 42 ofthe flyer, and extends upwardly from such part 42 coaxially thereof. Thespindle 36 extends through the axial passage in pinion 51 and is free torotate relative to such pinion. Pinion 51 meshes with a second gear orpinion 52 which is mounted on a stub shaft 54 projecting upwardly fromthe fixed support 25. Shaft 54 is shown journalled in a bearing 55 insupport 25. Removably secured to pinion 52 by conventional means (notshown), coaxially thereof and so as to turn therewith, is a third gear56 which, in turn, meshes with the fourth gear or pinion 57. Pinion 57,in the illustrative embodiment, is removably secured to the spindle 36by means of keys or lands (not specifically shown) on the inner wall ofthe central bore through the pinion, such keys being received inlongitudinally extending grooves 59 in the outer surface 60 of the upperend of spindle 36. The gear 57 is securely retained upon the spindle 36by a nut 61 which singles strands a and b about each other in the pliedstrand or cord produced by the apparatus. Let it be assumed, by way ofexample only, that the cord is to have 12 twists per inch, and that eachinches of cord contains 114 inches of each of singles strands a and b,the difference in such values being the amount of decrease in theelfective length of the singles strands resulting from the twisting ofthe strands about each other. Knowing such parameters of a givenply-wrapping operation, the required speed reduction of the gear trainfrom the flyer 24 to the capstan roll 45 for each permissible effectivediameter of capstan roll 45 may readily be calculated. The final resultwill, of course, include as corrective factors the experimentallydetermined very small but inevitable creep of strand a upon the surface,and the similar small creep of the cord 0 upon the surfaces of the rollsof the cord take-up capstan 26.

In one illustrative, non-limiting example, the surface 48 of the capstan45 has an effective circumference of about 2 inches. The plied strand orcord has the above assumed 12 twists per inch, and each 100 inches ofcord contains 114 inches of each of singles strands a and b. To producesuch 100 inches of cord the apparatus must rotate the loop or balloon1,200 times, and the capstan roll 45, if the effective diameter of itssurface 48 were exactly 2 inches, must rotate 114/2:57 times in thestrand feeding direction. The difference in the numbers of revolutionsof the flyer and the capstan roll is 1,20057= 1,143. The ratio of thespeed reduction through the gear train between the flyer and the capstanis thus 1,200/1,143. This is approximately 1.05/1 or 21/20. The latterratio is readily attainable by an appropriate choice of the gears 51, 52and 56, 57. Minor adjustments in the speed of feeding of the strand a bycapstan roll 45 can readily be made by grinding the surface 48 of thecapstan roll 45 down to the actual required diameter. It may be desired,for economy as well as flexibility of use of the apparatus, to make thecapstan roll 45 removable from the spindle 36, and to connect it theretoby means similar to that employed herein for connecting the gear 57 tothe spindle 36. This not only facilitates the machining of the capstanroll, but also permits the plying apparatus to be altered to producecords with different twist characteristics by appropriate changes of thecapstan roll and the gear train driving such capstan roll relative tothe speed of rotation of the main spindle shaft 14 and the rate at whichthe cord is taken up by the capstan 26.

It will be apparent from the above thatthe illustrated strand handlingmethod and apparatus of the invention may be altered considerably withinthe scope of the invention. The diameter of the strand engaging surface48 of the capstan roll 45 may be varied appreciably consistent with thebest modes of handling a particular strand a; also, the surface 48 ofthe capstan roll 45 may be cylindrical rather than dished, as shown, andthe guides 47 and 49 on the flyer body 40 may be further verticallydisplaced so that successive wraps of the strand a on such cylindricalsurface of the capstan roll will lie axially spaced from each other andat an appreciable helix angle relative to the axis of the capstan.Further, instead of disposing the guide 50 near the body 40 of the flyer24, and causing the strand a to travel radially inwardly and upwardly tothe plying or cording point P, such guide may be disposed at or adjacentthe axis of the loop by supporting it on one or more rod-like membersextending radially inwardly from the body of the flyer. The inner strand[7 may then also be passed through the centrally located guide 50, alongwith strand a, the strands a and b then meeting and being wrapped aroundeach other at a plying point which in reality is a Zone of some lengthin which the strands are plied while travelling generally parallel toeach other.

It should be pointed out that no twisting of the strand a takes place inits passage from its source of supply to the plying point, despite thecontinuance of its rotating loop from the loop proper around the capstanroll 45. through the run 2 of the strand, and through guides 49 and 50.Thus the feeding of the strand a in accordance with the presentinvention does not alter the essential characteristic of the illustratedskip twister of not altering the twist of the singles strands, assupplied to the apparatus, in forming a plied strand or cord therefrom.

If the strand a, after passing guide 5%, were presented to a take-upbobbin mounted on a fixed support within the rotatable loop or balloon,however, rather than being turned to pass to the plying point and thenout of the plying apparatus, the strand a would be subjected to twotwists per revolution of the main spindle shaft 14. It can thus be seenthat the strand feeding method and apparatus of the invention may alsobe employed to feed a strand to the take-up bobbin of a two-for-onedowntwister. Because of the accessibility of the outer end of thespindle 36 or shaft upon which the capstan roll 45 is mounted, the speedof rotation of such capstan roll may readily be changed, if desired,during the operation of the apparatus by the use of a controllablechange speed gearing device drivingly connected to the outer end of thespindle 36 instead of the gear train here shown which maintains a fixeddifference between the speed of rotation of the loop or balloongenerating flyer and the speed of rotation of the capstan roll 45.

The strand feeding method and apparatus of the invention have beenillustrated herein in connection with their use in a cord formingapparatus of the uptwister ply-wrapping type, such apparatus employingan auxiliary flyer with which the capstan roll is associated. It will beunderstood, however, that the strand feeding method and apparatus of theinvention may also be employed with a ply-wrapping cord former of thedowntwister type wherein the outer ballooned strand travels inwardlythrough a balloon apex guide and after having passed through therotating loop of balloon engages the balloon generating flyer. Suchmethod and apparatus may also be employed in various other types ofstrand twisting apparatus where in it is desired to feed a strand at apredetermined speed from or to a rotating loop or balloon. As willappear hereinafter, the direction of feeding of the strand by theapparatus of the invention is reversible.

One skip plying spindle of the do-wntwister type in accordance with theinvention has the singles feeding capstan, and the gearing which drivesit at constant speed from the main hollow shaft of the spindle,disposed, in that order, between the flyer and the stationary supportfor the supply package for the inner, non-ballooned strand. The outerballooned singles strand is pulled inwardly by the capstan from theballoon or loop proper through a first guide affixed to the flyer. Fromthe capstan, which is in the form of a capstan roll telescoped about androtating with respect to the main shaft of the spindle, the thus fedouter singles strand travels radially outwardly to a second strand guideaffixed to the flyer, and thence axially away from the gearing and thecapstan and radially inwardly to enter an opening through the Wall ofthe main spindle shaft, so as to meet and be plied with the inner strandas the latter travels through such shaft. As in the illustratedembodiment, the inner strand is subjected to a constant tension inadvance of the plying point or zone. The thus plied strand or cord istaken up under tension, preferably at a constant speed somewhat slowerthan but suitably 3 related to that of the singles strand feedingcapstan, as in the first illustrated embodiment.

In the embodiment now being described, the spindle is tipped at apronounced angle to the vertical, the inner package support beingeccentrically weighted to maintain it from rotation. Such eccentricallyweighted support is, in this instance, employed as the stationaryelement upon which the two radially outer gears, corresponding to thegears 52 and 56 of the illustrated embodiment, are journalled. The gearsmay be mounted upon the heavier side of the package support, therebydesirably adding to the eccentric weighting of such support. As in theillustrated embodiment, the two radially outer gears of the gear trainmesh, respectively, with a pinion fixedly connected to the flyer (inthis instance being afiixed to the main shaft of the spindle) and apinion fixedly connected to the singles feeding capstan.

The last described, down-twister type strand plying spindle is compact,rugged, and is easily balanced dynamically for operation at high speeds.Very little, if any, weight need be added to the flyer per se inproviding the first and second guides thereon, since by appropriateshaping of the flyer, as by making it of a shallow saucer shape with adepressed central well, both guides may be in the form of passagesthrough the flyer body leading the singles strand to and away from thecapstan roll. The singles feeding capstan and its drive train aremounted on the main spindle shaft and the stationary package support.

The action of the singles feeding capstan roll 45 per se is, as pointedout above, reversible as to the direction of flow of the strand engagedand fed thereby. Such reversal may be effected either by changing thedirection of wrap of the strand about the capstan roll or by changingthe algebraic sign of the difference in strand feeding effects betweenthat caused by rotation of the flyer and that caused by rotation of thecapstan roll. With twisting spindles handling only one strand, such astwo-for-one twisters, the capstan may be employed to feed such strandeither into or out of the loop or balloon. As a corollary, the flyerwhich cooperates with the capstan roll 45 may be driven by the balloonto rotate therewith, as here shown, or may be driven by a prime moverand function as a balloon-generating flyer.

Although a limited number of embodiments of the invention have beenillustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoingspecification, it is to be especially understood that various changes,such as in the relative dimensions of the parts, materials used, and thelike, as well as the suggested manner of use of the apparatus of theinvention, may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, as will now be apparent to those skilled in theart.

What is claimed is:

l. A method of handling a strand travelling through a loop rotating at apredetermined speed about its axis, which comprises disposing a capstanroll coaxial of the loop, extending the strand from one end of the mainportion of the loop in a first run extending through a first guidedisposed radially outwardly of the axis of the loop and thence to thecapstan roll, wrapping the strand in substantially non-slippingengagement about the capstan roll, disposing a further portion of thestrand extending from and beyond the capstan roll in a second runpassing through a second guide disposed radially outwardly of the axisof the loop, rotating the two guides together in the same direction andat the same speed as the rotating loop in such direction relative to thedirection of winding of the strand 0n the capstan roll that if thecapstan roll were held from rotation a desired one of the runs of thestrand would be wrapped upon and the other run of the strand would beunwrapped from the capstan roll whereby the strand would then be fed inthe desired direction, and rotating the capstan roll at a speed which isdifferent in a predetermined amount from the speed of rotation of theloop and the guides, the capstan roll feeding the strand therepast at acontrolled predetermined speed whioh is proportional to the resultant ofthe strand feeding effect of the joint rotation of the loop and theguides and the strand feeding effect of the rotation of the capstanroll.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capstan roll delivers thestrand at constant speed, and wherein the loop and the capstan rollrotate at speeds the ratio of which is constant.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first guide is disposedsubstantially at one end of the loop proper, the capstan roll isdisposed adjacent the same end of the loop, and the first run of thestrand extends substantially directly from the first guide to thecapstan and lays the strand on the capstan roll.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second guide is disposedadjacent said one end of the loop proper, the second run of the strandextends substantially directly from the capstan roll to the secondguide, and the second guide removes the strand from the capstan roll.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the loop and capstan rollrotate at constant speeds, and comprising driving the capstan roll inthe same direction as the direction of rotation of the loop.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising driving the capstan rollat a speed which is lower than the speed of rotation of the loop.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, comprising driving the capstan rollat a speed which is higher than the speed of rotation of the loop.

8. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the capstan roll feeds thestrand from the loop into the space within the loop, and comprisingtaking up the strand after it has left the second guide.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the capstan roll has an atleast generally axially extending passage therethrough, and comprisingpassing the strand after it leaves the second guide outwardly of theloop along a path extending through the said passage through the capstanroll.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, comprising disposing a source ofsupply of a second strand within the loop, feeding the second strandfrom said source toward the passage through the capstan r011 so that thetwo strands engage and twist about each other at a plying point,withdrawing the two strands together through the passage in the capstanroll, and taking up the plied strand outwardly of the loop.

11. Apparatus for feeding at a controlled speed a strand travellingthrough a loop rotating at a predetermined speed about its axis, whichcomprises a capstan roll disposed coaxial of the loop, means mountingthe capstan roll for rotation about its axis, means including a firstguide disposed radially outwardly of the axis of the loop for extendingthe strand from one end of the main portion of the loop in a first runextending through said first guide and thence to the capstan roll, thecapstan roll being adapted to receive the strand wrapped thereabout insubstantially non-slipping engagement therewith, means including asecond guide disposed radially outwardly of the axis of the loop forextending a further portion of the strand from and beyond the capstan'roll in a second run passing through said second guide, means forrotating the two guides together in the same direction and at thesamespeed as the rotating loop in such direction relative to the directionof winding of the strand on the capstan roll that if the capstan rollwere held from rotation a desired one of the runs of the strand would bewrapped upon and the other run of the strand would be unwrapped from thecapstan roll whereby the strand would then be fed in the desireddirection, and means for rotating the capstan roll at a speed which isdifferent in a predetermined amount from the speed of rotation of theloop and the guides, whereby the capstan roll feeds the strand therepastat a controlled predetermined speed which is proportional to theresultant of the strand feeding effect of the joint rotation of the loopand the guides and. the strand feeding effect of the rotation of thecapstan roll.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the means for rotating thecapstan roll at a speed which is diiferent in a predetermined amountfrom the speed of rotation of the loop and the guides comprises meansfor maintaining constant the ratio of the speed of rotation of the loopand the capstan roll.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first and secondguide-s are disposed substantially at one end of the loop proper, t-hecapstan roll is disposed adjacent the same end of the loop, the firstrun of the strand extends substantially directly from the first guide tothe capstan and lays the strand on the capstan roll, the second run ofthe strand extends substantially directly from the capstan roll to thesecond guide, and the second guide removes the strand from the capstanroll.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the capstan roll has an atleast generally axially extending passage therethrough, and comprisingmeans for passing the strand after it leaves the second guide outwardlyof the loop along a path extending through the said passage through saidcapstan roll, and means for taking up the strand outwardly of the loopafter it has passed through the capstan roll.

15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, comprising a source of supply of asecond strand within the loop, means for feeding the second strand undertension from said source toward the passage through the capstan roll sothat the two strands engage and are plied at a plying point, and whereinsaid means for taking up the first recited strand outwardly of the looptakes up under tension the plied strand formed of the first recite-d andsecond strands.

16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, comprising means for rotatin theloop at constant speed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,729,051 1/1956 Clark-son 5758.32,902,817 9/1959 Schrenk et al. 5758.36 2,949,725 8/1960 Renzini 5758.363,066,472 12/1962 Klein 5758.3 3,153,893 10/1964 Vibber 5758.3 3,286,45011/1966 Vibber 5758.3 3,290,873 12/1966 Vibber 5758.36 X

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner.

11. APPARATUS FOR FEEDING AT A CONTROLLED SPEED A STRAND TRAVELINGTHROUGH A LOOP ROTATING AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED ABOUT ITS AXIS, WHICHCOMPRISES A CAPSTAN ROLL DISPOSED COAXIAL OF THE LOOP, MEANS MOUNTINGTHE CAPSTAN ROLL FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS AXIS, MEANS INCLUDING A FIRSTGUIDE DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE AXIS OF THE LOOP FOR EXTENDINGTHE STRAND FROM ONE END OF THE MAIN PORTION OF THE LOOP IN A FIRST RUNEXTENDING THROUGH SAID FIRST GUIDE AND THENCE TO THE CAPSTAN ROLL, THECAPSTAN ROLL BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE STRAND WRAPPED THEREABOUT INSUBSTANTIALLY NON-SLIPPING ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, MEANS INCLUDING ASECOND GUIDE DISPOSED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE AXIS OF THE LOOP FOREXTENDING A FURTHER PORTION OF THE STRAND FROM AND BEYOND THE CAPSTANROLL IN A SECOND RUN PASSING THROUGH SAID SECOND GUIDE, MEANS FORROTATING THE TWO GUIDES TOGETHER IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND AT THE SAMESPEED AS THE ROTATING LOOP IN SUCH DIRECTION RELATIVE TO THE DIRECTIONOF WINDING OF THE STRAND ON THE CAPSTAN ROLL THAT IF THE CAPSTAN ROLLWERE HELD FROM ROTATION A DESIRED ONE OF THE RUNS OF THE STRAND WOULD BEWRAPPED UPON AND THE OTHER RUN OF THE STRAND WOULD BE UNWRAPPED FROM THECAPSTAN ROLL WHEREBY THE STRAND WOULD THEN BE FED IN THE DESIREDDIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CAPSTAN ROLL AT A SPEED OFROTATION OF THE PREDETERMINED AMOUNT FROM THE SPEED OF ROTATION OF THELOOP AND THE GUIDES, WHEREBY THE CAPSTAN ROLL FEEDS THE STRAND THEREPASTAT A CONTROLLED PREDETERMINED SPEED WHICH IS PROPORTIONAL TO THERESULTANT OF THE STRAND FEEDING EFFECT OF THE JOINT ROTATION OF THE LOOPAND THE GUIDES AND THE STRAND FEEDING EFFECT OF THE ROTATION OF THECAPSTAN ROLL.